Research and Course Guides: English: Biographies

Literary & specialized biography sources

Literature Online
English and American poetry, drama, and prose plus 240+ full-text literature journals, other criticism, and reference resources
Literary Reference Source (previously Literary Reference Center)
covers authors from a range of time periods & countries
Literature Resource Center (Gale)
authors from every age & discipline; covers many vols. of the highly respected Dictionary of Literary Biography
Bloom's Literature
essays on well-known writers, works, & influential movements and events in world literature plus bios, character entries, and videos
Dictionary of Literary Biography (Gale)
biographical and critical essays on the lives, works, and careers of the world's most influential literary figures from all eras and genres (vol. 373 and newer) Note: Earlier vols. are in print @ PN 451 .D52
Something About the Author (Gale)
illustrated biographical profiles of approximately 75 children's authors and artists, v.254-
[Note: v.1-253 (1971-2013) are in print @ PN 451 .S6]
American National Biography Online
portraits of more than 19,000 men and women whose lives have shaped the nation
Limit: 1 user at a time
Dictionary of National Biography
national record of men and women worldwide who have shaped British history and culture, from the Romans to the 21st century
Limit: 1 user at a time
Oxford African American Studies Center
biographies, topical entries, primary source documents with commentary, images, maps, charts, tables, and more
Who's Who in the Classical World
Oxford dictionary of ancient biography, covering Greek & Roman history, politics, literature, philosophy, science, & art

General biography sources

Biography in Context (Gale)
biographical information integrating reference materials, periodical articles, and multimedia content
Biography Index Past and Present
more than a million article and book citations back to 1946; a comprehensive biographical resource on newsmakers of their times
Biography Reference Bank
biographical profiles plus articles, images, interviews, essays, book reviews, performance reviews, speeches, and obituaries
Current Biography Illustrated
profiles and images of celebrities, politicians, entrepreneurs, artists, and others; content from the monthly magazine Current Biography